Arrive Phnom Penh

Today, arrive at Phnom Penh, where you will be met by your AIRTOURS HOLIDAYS Tour Leader in the arrivals area.  Proceed to your waiting private vehicle which will drive you to your hotel. 

Guided tour of Phnom Penh. Onto Siem Reap

After breakfast, check out and proceed on a guided tour of the city.  Visit the Independence Monument and the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh. Transfer to Siem Reap by private vehicle.

Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat

Breakfast in your hotel after which begin your sightseeing tour of Angkor area.  Spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. Stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man's creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature.

Tour of Siem Reap. Flight to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Post breakfast, time to check out and proceed to visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. Spend the rest of the day visiting the "Chantiers Ecole’s - Les Artisans d'Angkor" which provides training to young Cambodians to revive the ancient Khmer traditions of stone carving and wood sculpting.  A beautiful insight into the arts and culture of Cambodia.

Transfer to the airport for flight to Saigon (Flight cost not included)
Upon arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel.

Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels – City sightseeing

After a delightful breakfast in your hotel, embark on a day of discovering the attractions offered by this lovely city. The Cu Chi Tunnels which were never discovered by American Forces are stretching over 200 km and were important Viet Cong base during the American War. This underground network, dug by hand connected command posts hospital shelter and weapon factories. 

After a local lunch, visit the Mariamman Hindu temple, Sri Thendayutthapani temple and Reunification Palace which formerly was Independence palace of the South Vietnamese President.  Continue to visit the Centre Post Office and the Cathedral of Notre Dame.

My Tho – Saigon – Flight to Danang – Hoi An

Enjoy a buffet breakfast and check out to transfer to the outskirt of Saigon to tour the beautiful countryside.  Start at tourist boat station (My Tho), from where you will be cruising on the Tien (Mekong) river to see four islands: Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix. Enjoy fresh coconut water. Visit the floating market and fish-craft village along Tien River. Stop at Thoi Son Island, stroll around countryside road, seeing orchards, enjoying tropical fruits and listening to traditional music. Take a rowing boat on small canal with beautiful scenery of the countryside, visit a honey-bee farm and enjoy honey-tea. Stop at Phoenix Island to visit Coconut Monk Temple and Crocodile-pond. Enjoy Lunch.  Thereafter, transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang. (Flight cost not included) Upon arrival in Danang,

Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An.

Wake up to a delicious breakfast in your hotel and then transfer to My Son sanctuary. It comprises many Champa temples, in a valley roughly two kilometers wide, surrounded by two mountain ranges. It was the site of religious ceremony of kings of the Champa Dynasty and was also a burial place of Champa Royals and National heroes. The My Son temple complex is one of the foremost temple complexes of Hinduism in Southeast Asia and is the foremost heritage site of this nature in Vietnam. Though the complex has been destroyed over time, you still see many majestic ancient ruins of temples in the area. Return to Danang.

After lunch, visit a Family Chapel built by prominent, merchant or official families as the center ancestor worship a Chinese style Pagoda or Assembly Hall: Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda which is the first bridge on this site and was constructed in 1593 by Japanese community of Hoi An to link the town with the Chinese Quarter across the stream, besides looking at Fukien Association temple, Ceramic Museum and Chua Ong Temple.

Bana Hills and onto Hue

Check out, after breakfast and visit the Marble Mountain or five elements’ mountains – a cluster representing five elements (Kim – metal; Moc – wood; Thuy – water; Hoa – fire; Tho – earth) and limestone hills located in Ngu Hanh Son ward.

Ride the cable car which gains 5 world scores to Ba Na hills station. Stop at By Night station to visit Vong Nguyet hills, Linh Ung pagoda, The Old Villas of the French. Continue moving up by cable car to the Nui Chua Mountain – the top of Ba Na range, visiting Nginh Phong top, Le Nim Villas, Orchid Garden… Experience hill climbing train (first and unique funicular in Vietnam) and visit an old French cellar (Debay Ancient Wine Cellar), flower garden Le Jardin D’amour and LinhUng Pagoda. You should not miss walking on the Golden Bridge amid the foggy hills of the mountain, enjoy the gorgeous view of Da Nang City.
Transfer to Hue city, passing through many pretty, red-tiled villages with fruit orchards, enjoying spectacular views of sky and sea.  Free time for a bit of shopping at Dong Ba lively market.

Sightseeing of Hue

After breakfast, take a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River, Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu pagoda and the mausoleum of former emperor TuDuc - one of the most beautiful works of royal architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. Then visit the Imperial Citadel from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945

Flight to Hanoi. Sightseeing of Hanoi. Enjoy the Water Puppet show this evening.

After breakfast in the hotel, check out and transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. (Flight cost not included)

Upon arrival at Noi Bai international airport, transfer to hotel for check in.
Enjoy lunch and later this afternoon, you will visit The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which is a museum in Hanoi, Vietnam, focusing on the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam. Also visit the Temple of Literature, built in honor of Confucius by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070, which was also the first university in Vietnam during the 11th century.
Then visit Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake) and Ngoc Son Temple (from outside) with Sunrise Bridge. Evening highlight will be a Water Puppet Performance – the unique form of Vietnamese art derived from wet rice civilization of Southeast Asia.

Hanoi – Hoa Lu – Tam Coc – Hanoi

After breakfast, depart from your hotel for a scenic 2 hours drive along green fields and villages on highway number 01. Your first stop is Hoa Lu, which used to be the capital of Vietnam in the 11th century. Visit the temple of Dinh & Le Dynasty, learn about the history of Vietnam in the war with China and about the first Vietnamese government. Enjoy the beautiful rice paddy fields, and lots of fresh air. After lunch, board a small boat, glide along a long canal with rice paddy fields and mountains on either side, your boat will go through three cave called "Hang Ca", "Hang 2", "Hang 3". Return to the wharf, where your coach is waiting to transfer you to Hanoi.

Hanoi-Sealife Legend Cruise on the Ha Long Bay

Tuck into a buffet breakfast, after which check out and depart for the pier from where you will board your cruise for Ha Long Bay. Explore the legendary Ha Long Bay. Cruise amongst the Bay’s rock formations and floating villages.
12:00: Arrive at the Got pier – Hai Phong Province, where you will be escorted to the luxury Sea life Group Lounge and welcomed with a refreshing drink. A short transfer brings you to the Sea life Legend Cruises – the Legend of the Sea.
12:30: You will be given a short brief on your cruise, checked in and escorted to the restaurant.
13:15: Lunch at Fish Net Restaurant. Lunch will be served at Fish Net Restaurant while Sea life Legend Cruises goes to Lan Ha Bay bypassing Halong Bay. Enjoy the scenery as you pass the majestic limestones rising from the emerald seawater of Lan Ha Bay.
15:30: Visit Van Ta Area with Bright Cave | Bamboo Rowing Boat trip| Kayaking| Swimming Van Ta Area is inclusive of Dark and Bright Cave, border of Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay, and it is one of the less visited and most intriguing caves in Halong and Lan Ha Bay. We invite you to visit Bright Cave by bamboo boat rowed by local people through some floating houses where they are feeding fishes, clams, and oysters. Thereafter you have the option to kayak or swim in the emerald, green, cool water (subject to weather conditions).
16:30: Time for some relaxation and rejuvenation of your mind, body, and soul. Try the open Jacuzzi, sauna, gymnasium or book a traditional massage to your liking.
17:30: Happy Hour. Enjoy unlimited fun with our Happy hour with buy one get one for all in – house guests from 17:30 to 19:00 hours
18:00: Cooking Demonstration | Vietnamese Liquor Tasting
Welcome to our cooking demonstration with Vietnamese traditional liquor tasting on the sundeck to learn about traditional cuisines made by fishermen. You will try your hands at making “Ca Thinh” – fermented fish – using traditional vinegar made from distiller’s grains, rice powder, herbs and rice paper. Then cheer up with a Vietnamese traditional liquor tasting. Drinking and having fun in the local style could be a highlight of your day.
19:15:  Dinner at Fish Net Restaurant. Savor a delicious dinner at Fish Net Restaurant by choosing your favorite dishes on our menu.
20:30:  Live band at Navy Club or Squid Fishing. Save your dancing moves for the live music performed by a Filipino band and relax in the club, enjoy drinks, or just try your luck at squid fishing by night.
22:30:  Return to your cabin to call it a day or stay out on the deck sipping on your favorite drink.

Cat Ba Island – Lan Ha Bay – Hanoi

06:00:  Good morning and a new day with participation in a Vovinam class – Vietnam martial art. Or watch the sunrise on the top deck to feel the freshness of life with a cup of tea or coffee..
06:45:  A light breakfast is served in the Fish Net Restaurant.
07:45:  Visit Cat Ba World Biosphere Reserve - Very short transfer to the Cat Ba World Biosphere Reserve by tender, and then, you enjoy short transfer from Gia Luan port to HoaCuong Cave to view its beautiful stalagmites and stalactites formations, located in World Biosphere Reserve (Cat Ba National Park)
09:30:  Time to check out and settle bills before enjoying a buffet brunch at Fish Net Restaurant while the boat sets sail back to pier. Relax on the sundeck.
11:00:  Disembark and return to the quay, where your coach awaits to transfer you to Hanoi.
Note: Cruise itineraries and schedules are subject to change without pre-notice depending on the weather and operating conditions.
After checking into your hotel, rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore some shopping options on own.

Farewell and fly back home

Wake up to a buffet/boxed breakfast after which you will check out and transfer to the airport for your flight home with wonderful memories of your holiday to Cambodia and Vietnam. (B)